Shower connecting apparatus



L 2 1940. B. s. NHCHELSON 2,219,394

SHOWER CONNECTING APPARATUS Filed March 17, 1938 41 m "mun-m Z52 vento r f qr 2525i Patented Oct. 29, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOWER CONNECTING APPARATUS I Barnett S. Michelson, Dorchester, Mass.

A. Application March 17,

Q 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to an attachment to be used for water pipe connections, in particular for an attachment to be used for bath room connections or tubs so that the water delivered from the mains may be sent upwards or downwards at will by the operation of the valve.

The present invention finds particular utility in serving as a connecting element for a shower to be applied to a bath tub fixture. With many bath tub fixtures, the outlet combining the hot and cold water is directed downward or at some other angle, so that it is not an easy matter to obtain a standard fixture element which may be used for a great number of fixtures. in making connections both for shower and for tub use.

The present invention overcomes these difficulties by providing a particular type of joint, so that whatever direction the outlet faucet of the fixture may be, the shower connection can be brought up vertically and the bath tubsupply down in the same vertical direction.

The connection of the present invention in addition, is simple, convenient and easy to install and offers a minimum number of connections to effect the desired result. The device is particu-. larly useful in connection with an open shower or curtainless shower, in which the shower is directly attached to the faucet fixture and does not necessitate any additional connecting or fixture element for the walls or other supporting brackets for the fixtures themselves.

In addition to the features mentioned above, the present arrangement also provides a downward outlet with a valve operating therein, which in one position, allows a full stream of water to go downward, and in the second position, sends a full stream upwards.

Without further describing the advantages and merits of the present invention, which will be understood from a consideration of the description given below, the applicant will now describe an embodiment of the invention in which:

Figure 1 shows an elevation of the invention as applied to a shower attached to a faucet fixture.

Figure 2 shows in detail an exploded view of the connecting element indicated in Figure 1, and,

Figure 3 indicates a small size view of the upper part of the shower device to which the upright pipe of Figure 1 attaches.

Figure 1 illustrates a fixture in which the combined hot and cold water outlet I having the outlet connection 2' extends vertically downward. The connecting elements of the present invention comprises the elbow 3, the connection 4, the lower 1938,'Serial No. 196,420

valve 5 and the upper outlet 6. The elbow 3 as m dicated is an elbow of 22 /2. While elbowsof other angles'may be used,this type of elbow is preferableas it readily can convert in connection with the connecting element 4, the direction '5 of the vertical outlet 2 in most any desired direction.

In the present instance indicated in Figure 1, the elbow 2 is used to maintain the same angle between the upright 6 and the outlet 2 and this 10 is obtained in the combination of the 45 connecting element 4 and the 22 elbow 3. Not only does the combination of these two elements allow the desired vertical directions of the pipe 6 and the valve 5, but it also provides sufficient offset of 5 the pipes from the valve 1 of the faucet so that it may be turned without any difiiculty. The detail of elements 3, I, and 5 is indicated moreclearly in Figure 2. The element 3 as has been explained is an elbow of approximately 22 /2" with a tap ID at one end and a threaded shoulder H on the other end. In the position shown in Figure 2, the connection to 2, the outlet of the faucet, would not be vertical, but as indicated, at an angle of less than 45", since the two way joint 4, has its threaded end I2 positioned at an angle of approximately 45" so that the outlet I I of the elbow 3 will be even more horizontal than this. The joint 4 has one connecting element |3 connecting to the outlet from the mixing valve or the faucet and an upright conduit I4 which is threaded at I5 to receive the pipe 6. The lower part of the joint 4 has a threaded nipple IS in which a hard rubber valve element H is positioned. This element I1 is formed with a tube l8 positioned within the nipple l6 and. a shoulder I1 coming over the outer end of the nipple. The valve 5 comprises three elements, the valve shell |9, the plunger 2|! and the cover 2|. The valve shell I9 threads on the nipple I6 and comprises a chamber 22 with an end pipe 23 which serves as a guide and holding means for the plunger 20. The plunger 20. The plunger 20 is formed as a capped element with a solid cover 24 at the top of the tube 25, which tube is provided with a group of holes 26, around the top portion through which the water flows into the hollow portion of the tube and out of the lower portion of the cover 2|. The cover 2| is tapped to turn on the threads 21 and fits over the shell |9, the end of the cover being provided with a lip 30 extending over the end 32 of the plunger 20. A set screw 33 is provided in the cover 2| which prevents the cover from. being turned to a limit lower than the shoulder 34 formed as a portion at the side of the shell IS. The pipe 26 is formed at the end as indicated in theFigure 3 with shower arms 40 and 4| extending outwardly in the desired inclination with one another and being provided with vertical slots 42, 42, etc., through which the Water is spread out. The size of the pipe 6, its length and the number of elements may be chosen in accordance with the type of shower that it is desired to use.

In the operation of the device, the faucets 1 for cold and hot may be opened to the desired position to obtain the desired mixing. If the shower is used the valve 5 is turned upward which forces the plunger 20 against the washer l1 and thereby seals the lower outlet, the water thereupon being .diverted and going upwards and through the pipe 6. If it is desired to allow the water to g down, the valve is opened to the limit allowed by the set screw 33 or less if desired. In this case the plunger is forced downward by the water pressure and the water passes around the tube outward through the inside of the tube out at the bottom of the valve. In the present instance, the

20 through the openings 26 and.

valve is such that when open no pressure will be built up in the pipes to make the water stand in the pipe 6, and because of this the water will run clear and fall down through the lower valve opening.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

In a water pipe faucet connection having a circular outlet extending therefrom in a fixed direction, a shower connection thereto for conducting the water from the outlet upwards in a vertical direction, comprising, in combination, a water pipe elbow having branches extending at approximately 22 with each other, a pipe connector having a vertical and an inclined branch, the latter of which threads into one branch of said elbow in the direction of said branch, a vertical branch having a top outlet for a shower connecting pipe and an outlet pipe extending downward from the same branch, said outlet pipe having a valve therein whereby the Water may be permitted to flow either upwards to the shower or downwards to a tube or other-container.

BARNETT S. MICHELSON. 

